Maria Aristidou Fall Winter 2019 during Haute Couture Fashion WeekHauturely: Can you please tell us about yourself?Maria: My name is Maria Aristidou, and I am a fashion designer from Cyprus. From the early years of my studies in Economics, I discovered and developed, with a great persistence as a self-learner, my love for fashion design. I first started my designing career with menswear, and then womenswear followed. In 2015, the introduction of my first Autumn/Winter 2015 limited knit scarf collection was the start of a new concept in the Maria Aristidou designs. The magic of knitwear allows me to create and explore various knit patterns with luxurious threads and techniques. Moreover, the craftsmanship of elaborate hand-embroideries adds to the luxury of the uniqueness of Maria Aristidou fabrics for my couture knit evening wear as well as for the luxury knit beachwear for both men and women.
After two seasons in luxury Ready To Wear, in July 2016, I deputed my first Couture Collection during the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week and continue to do so today!

Hauturely: How do you feel now that the show is over?Maria: Relieved, sad because it’s over. The adrenaline from the last four months was high and a great motivator, but I am now feeling the pressure of what will follow regarding sales.

Hauturely: What was your favorite piece to make?Maria: Since I specialize in knitwear, making this collection and every collection is the process of its development that I really enjoy. I love the timing while developing and producing the fabrics, color combinations, and hand embroidery designs. Thus, at the end of the day, every piece is unique to me.

Hauturely: What difficulties do you have to face and how do you overcome them?Maria: I prefer to mention difficulties as obstacles because I find it easier to be motivated and find ways to overcome them. Raw material limitations in Cyprus and knit machine technicalities are some of the issues that I usually have to face. When it comes to the collection and development difficulties, arise I always try to find what is the next best solution. Sometimes it’s not the desirable one, but I find ways to incorporate it in a way that is closer to the initial goal. Another obstacle is the budget that is needed every season. It is a challenge that always has to have a plan.

Hauturely: Which model or top model would you like to have for your shows?Maria: I don’t want to name someone, because I enjoy working with models, famous or not. I like when they have a great personality, and that shows many times when we do the fittings. They can be super famous or beginner models, but at the end of the day, the most important factor is how they work with the team and designer and how well they walk on the catwalk.

Hauturely: Who do you dream of having front row at your show?Maria: It sounds very cliche, but I would love to have chief editors of magazines, famous bloggers, VIP’s and last but not least, my parents and friends. It’s great to feel the support when I am backstage from my people.

Hauturely: What is your vision of Haute Couture?Maria: Haute Couture is simply magic! It is all about handcrafted, luxury, but in my eyes, it is also about wearability. Being a Couture designer, not a Haute Couture one, every season I try to show something different on my knit fabrics, patterns, embroideries, and in my designs while at the same time being wearable to the market I refer. At first glance, some can say that luxury fashion is all about price, big fashion house products and that it is usually due to high consumer range. Although I believe luxury fashion is more than just looking “rich.” Based on my experience a luxury product, its all about its uniqueness, exclusivity, the research, and development to make that product, its craftsmanship, and not just the price or the label name because it is expensive. Luxury is a special product that is made in a smaller number of pieces and not in mass production. The luxury of a product can be defined in its purity and the feeling of something new, something different. In my case, “knit” is the new luxury. With all the mentioned above, for all seasons, for many reasons, luxury is misunderstood.written by Lunda Fallon

FEATURED

Cute Couture at Giovanni Bedin Spring Summer 2020 during Haute Couture Fashion Week
Since founding his label in 2017, Giovanni Bedin has officially completed his first fashion show, presenting his Runway Spring/Summer 2020 collection of Ready-to-Wear haute couture in Paris, France. The feminine collection was full of delicate details and lightness in motion.

The Italian designer focused on shapes and cutouts, drawing attention to the female figure and uncovering precision. He used his favorite accessory of whalebones for corsets and miniskirts, sculpting the body and creating subtle dimensions. Bedin limited his color palette to neutrals of black, white, light pink, and blue, rather than using vibrant colors that may distract attention away from the details.

The catwalk took place at Hotel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel, which was an ideal location for an afternoon show in 30-degree heat! The models made an entrance through large open doors, weaving their way around a light and airy room with wooden floors, passing mirrors and reflections showing the elaborate and grand gold ornamentation of the building. Walking with a potent stride and always on the move, the models represented the innocence yet fierceness of women, with natural, ‘barely there’ makeup and slicked-back hair.

Creative Knitwear at MLRR and Papel de Punto Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
MLRR – also known as Mulierr – and Papel de Punto were two more clothing brands who had the chance to show off their new designs at Bogotá Fashion Week 2019. Latin American brand, MLRR, uses organic cotton for every garment, supporting sustainable practices while also helping the environment and taking responsibility for our planet. The designs for their handmade embroidery and knits are inspired by the natural geometry and textures of everyday life.

Papel de Punto is the perfect balance between art and fashion, offering neat but fun knitwear made in Colombia. Laura Acevedo, the fashion and textile designer, works alongside her partner, Felipe Guerra, the brand architect and editor of style, creating collections with a global vision of both fashion and gender.

Both of these brands presented aesthetic collections at Bogotá Fashion Week 2019, full of creative knitting. The Mullierr team believes, ‘a day without knitting is like a day without sunshine…creativity is experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking the rules, making mistakes, and having fun’. It is all about the enjoyment of details in these collections, bringing unique and diverse style to the runway.

Sparkling Chic at Steven Khalil Fall Winter 2019 during Haute Couture Fashion Week
One of the most outstanding shows during Paris Fashion Week has to be Steven Khalil’s collection ‘Dame En Fleurs.’ As Khalil was inspired by the delicacy of flowers and the strength of their beauty, many pieces of this haute couture collection sparkled with numerous embroidered flowers. In an interview with Vogue Australia, Khalil explains his vision for the designs: “I wanted to examine the anatomy of flowers in their different stages of bloom — they are so delicate but also have a strength and beauty that appeals to everyone. I was interested to see how these elements could work together.”

The result proved to be a dazzling haze of both breezy and skin-tight shimmering dresses. The breathtaking creations of the Australian bridal and red carpet fashion designer were made in various soft, romantic colors like dove grey, silver, and white, but also in dramatic black. Organza and sequins were materials that returned in various designs. The necklines changed from strapless to deep v-necks and elegant high-necks. One of the most outstanding dresses has to be the asymmetrically cut-up viridian blue tulle dress that came near the end of the show. The combination of the various tulle layers with the romantically embellished bodice created a highly dramatic effect.

All About Retro Feels at Bendita Seas Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
Founded in 2005 by the publicist and designer Viviana Alba, the Colombian brand Bendita Seas designs highly original garments for creative, fun, and tasteful women. The brand is famous for its coats, dresses, skirts, boots, and its unique, feminine, and colorful details.

Their collection for the autumn-winter 2019 shown in April during Bogota Fashion Week, was a real feast for the fashion eye. The collection featured many unexpected contrasts of color and textures, with irregular cuts, square patterns, and floral embroidery elevating simple dresses, skirts, and jackets. All of the looks featured a mixture of retro and avant-garde with subtle kitsch touches while remaining very wearable.

Rock N’ Rock Chic at Ducky Black Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
Ducky Black is the punk rock chic brand of Colombian designer Luisa Alvarado. It caters to adult women who maintain a passion for the punk attitude, but who also like to incorporate a vision of a romantic lifestyle in their wardrobe. Handmade with innovative cuts, and using materials such as Spanish Nappa leather, Ducky Black offers sophisticated pieces with a rock-’n-roll vibe.

Cute Couture at Giovanni Bedin Spring Summer 2020 during Haute Couture Fashion Week
Since founding his label in 2017, Giovanni Bedin has officially completed his first fashion show, presenting his Runway Spring/Summer 2020 collection of Ready-to-Wear haute couture in Paris, France. The feminine collection was full of delicate details and lightness in motion.

The Italian designer focused on shapes and cutouts, drawing attention to the female figure and uncovering precision. He used his favorite accessory of whalebones for corsets and miniskirts, sculpting the body and creating subtle dimensions. Bedin limited his color palette to neutrals of black, white, light pink, and blue, rather than using vibrant colors that may distract attention away from the details.

The catwalk took place at Hotel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel, which was an ideal location for an afternoon show in 30-degree heat! The models made an entrance through large open doors, weaving their way around a light and airy room with wooden floors, passing mirrors and reflections showing the elaborate and grand gold ornamentation of the building. Walking with a potent stride and always on the move, the models represented the innocence yet fierceness of women, with natural, ‘barely there’ makeup and slicked-back hair.

Creative Knitwear at MLRR and Papel de Punto Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
MLRR – also known as Mulierr – and Papel de Punto were two more clothing brands who had the chance to show off their new designs at Bogotá Fashion Week 2019. Latin American brand, MLRR, uses organic cotton for every garment, supporting sustainable practices while also helping the environment and taking responsibility for our planet. The designs for their handmade embroidery and knits are inspired by the natural geometry and textures of everyday life.

Papel de Punto is the perfect balance between art and fashion, offering neat but fun knitwear made in Colombia. Laura Acevedo, the fashion and textile designer, works alongside her partner, Felipe Guerra, the brand architect and editor of style, creating collections with a global vision of both fashion and gender.

Both of these brands presented aesthetic collections at Bogotá Fashion Week 2019, full of creative knitting. The Mullierr team believes, ‘a day without knitting is like a day without sunshine…creativity is experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking the rules, making mistakes, and having fun’. It is all about the enjoyment of details in these collections, bringing unique and diverse style to the runway.

Sparkling Chic at Steven Khalil Fall Winter 2019 during Haute Couture Fashion Week
One of the most outstanding shows during Paris Fashion Week has to be Steven Khalil’s collection ‘Dame En Fleurs.’ As Khalil was inspired by the delicacy of flowers and the strength of their beauty, many pieces of this haute couture collection sparkled with numerous embroidered flowers. In an interview with Vogue Australia, Khalil explains his vision for the designs: “I wanted to examine the anatomy of flowers in their different stages of bloom — they are so delicate but also have a strength and beauty that appeals to everyone. I was interested to see how these elements could work together.”

The result proved to be a dazzling haze of both breezy and skin-tight shimmering dresses. The breathtaking creations of the Australian bridal and red carpet fashion designer were made in various soft, romantic colors like dove grey, silver, and white, but also in dramatic black. Organza and sequins were materials that returned in various designs. The necklines changed from strapless to deep v-necks and elegant high-necks. One of the most outstanding dresses has to be the asymmetrically cut-up viridian blue tulle dress that came near the end of the show. The combination of the various tulle layers with the romantically embellished bodice created a highly dramatic effect.

All About Retro Feels at Bendita Seas Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
Founded in 2005 by the publicist and designer Viviana Alba, the Colombian brand Bendita Seas designs highly original garments for creative, fun, and tasteful women. The brand is famous for its coats, dresses, skirts, boots, and its unique, feminine, and colorful details.

Their collection for the autumn-winter 2019 shown in April during Bogota Fashion Week, was a real feast for the fashion eye. The collection featured many unexpected contrasts of color and textures, with irregular cuts, square patterns, and floral embroidery elevating simple dresses, skirts, and jackets. All of the looks featured a mixture of retro and avant-garde with subtle kitsch touches while remaining very wearable.

Rock N’ Rock Chic at Ducky Black Fall Winter 2019 during Bogotá Fashion Week
Ducky Black is the punk rock chic brand of Colombian designer Luisa Alvarado. It caters to adult women who maintain a passion for the punk attitude, but who also like to incorporate a vision of a romantic lifestyle in their wardrobe. Handmade with innovative cuts, and using materials such as Spanish Nappa leather, Ducky Black offers sophisticated pieces with a rock-’n-roll vibe.